CARDINAL GEORGE TO BISHOPS: ABORTION DESTROYS THE COMMON GOOD

Francis Cardinal George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, addressed his fellow bishops in Baltimore today at the annual fall meeting. At the plenary session, George spoke affectionately about the success of Barack Obama, the nation’s first African American to be elected president of the United States.

Cardinal George also said that “The common good can never be adequately incarnated in any society when those waiting to be born can be legally killed” via abortion. The bishops gave him a warm response.

Commenting on this is Catholic League president Bill Donohue:

“More bishops spoke up this past election season about the horrors of abortion than ever before. Predictably, they were hammered not only by those who are squarely in the pro-abortion camp, but also by apologists for abortion who ascribe to a ‘common ground’ approach: This group is comprised of men and women who feign an interest in pro-life issues, but who nonetheless work tirelessly for pro-abortion politicians. It is not certain whom they have fooled.

“Among those not fooled is Cardinal George. Nowhere in his magnificent address did he cite the need for an increase in the minimum wage or the welfare budget as an adequate response to ending abortion. Indeed, he picked up on the ‘common ground’ lingo only to say that the ‘common ground cannot be found by destroying the common good.’

“No one is against social and economic measures that might reduce the likelihood of abortion. But no one who is seriously interested in putting an end to killing in the womb would ever suggest that such policies are sufficient. That is why Cardinal George’s statement today is so important. It bodes well for what will happen this week in Baltimore.”